The Special Court for Corruption and parties involved in the trial of a former director of State Water Department and two others on Thursday visited two crime scenes where a big amount of cash and luxurious properties were allegedly found by a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s raiding team seven years ago.

The two scenes were an office, which was used Ag Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib’s former workplace and a house here.

They also went to the State Bank Negara where some of the seized luxurious properties were kept, namely jewellery including gold and branded wristwatches.

Presiding judge for the trial, Abu Bakar Manat with other court officials accompanied by the prosecution and the defence teams, Ag Mohd Tahir, his wife Fauziah Hj Piut and Lim Lam Beng @ Lim Chee Hong left the court compound at 9.10am for the visits.

They arrived at the first crime scene which was the office located at Wisma Muis at 9.30am.

During the visit which lasted for about 20 minutes, the head of raiding team number eight, Hishammudin Mohammed Esa, led parties to Ag Mohd Tahir’s former office where some of the cash was allegedly found in 2016.

The judge and parties then proceeded to the second crime scene which was the house located around the city area.

They only observed the house from outside for several minutes before they proceeded to Bank Negara.

It was learnt that Ag Mohd Tahir and his family members are still staying at the house.

Upon reaching at Bank Negara, members of media were restricted from entering the building compound due to security issues.

One of the deputy public prosecutors who handled the trial, Haresh Prakash Somiah when met at the Bank Negara compound, said that the trial of the case would continue at the building for identification and marking of exhibits.

The exhibits are money, jewellery and other branded items.

Haresh also said for the said purposes, six witnesses, who had given their testimonies in court before would be involved, including two expert witnesses.

Ag Mohd Tahir, 59, Fauziah,57, and former deputy director of the Water Department, Lim, 68, were tried for alleged money laundering offences involving cash, bank savings as well as an alleged unlawful possession of luxurious items.

Ag Mohd Tahir faces 11 charges while Fauziah faces 19 charges under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Fauziah has another two joint charges with Ag Mohd Tahir under Section 4 (1)(b) also of the same Act and Ag Mohd Tahir also has another charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the same Act.

The alleged offences against Ag Mohd Tahir and his spouse were committed at an office here, a house in Sembulan, at bank branches, at a condominium, in Sulaman and a tower in Kuala Lumpur between October 4 and November 4, 2016.

Lim was alleged to have committed the offences at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office at Jalan UMS and at a house here between October 13 and November 8, 2016.

Deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat and Zander Lim also handled the trial.

Counsel Priskila Akwila Sinem and Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh represented Ag Mohd Tahir and Fauziah.

Counsel Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Baldev Singh, Karpaljit Singh and Kelvin Wong defended Lim.

The trial will resume on October 27.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by SURAINI ANDOKONG

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